AGF/Delay ‎– Symptoms

The storm that starts off AGF/Delay's SYMPTOMS seems to promise something ominous on the horizon, something borne out on thrumming beats and breathy female vocals. "Connection" loses the storm, but keeps a clattering rhythm amongst an almost dreamy background. "Downtown Snow" gets a little more urgent and more spare, to boot, which follows up into "Outbreak." For those who like their synth-pop more abstract, the booming resonance of "Bulletproof," replete with a lyrical reference to the civil war in the Congo, hits the target. The phased spoken word of "Congo Hearts" is even more abstract, shot through with hiss and some digital blips. The beats straighten themselves out into an almost martial rhythm for "In Cycles." An album that's challenging, and often beautiful.